WINCHESTER: Pageant winner to compete for Miss California USA

As co-executive director for the Miss Hemet/Miss San Jacinto Valley Queens, Allie Ibarra brings firsthand knowledge to the program. She has been a Miss California USA top finalist three times and was crowned 2013 Miss Orange County Regional on Saturday, Aug. 4, in Huntington Beach.

“It’s been almost two years since I’ve done a pageant but when I was asked to participate I thought I’d like to do one more,” Ibarra said.

Winning the Orange County regional pageant, which is open to contestants residing in any California city, qualified the 23-year-old to compete in the next Miss California USA pageant.

“Pageantry is like a sport. You are always pushing yourself to do your best and you persevere no matter what,” said Ibarra, who has lived in the same Winchester home for the past 20 years.

Ibarra graduated from Hemet’s West Valley High School in 2006. She was active in Associated Student Body and voted homecoming queen.

While a business major at the University of Redlands, she juggled three jobs, which left her little time to get involved with as many school activities as she would have liked. She was an intern at Target during her senior year and became an executive team leader position after she graduated in 2011.

She has served as a youth minister for Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Hemet since she was 18. She recently took the young members to a conference in San Diego that was attended by 5,000 children.

“I love working with kids and seeing them grow,” Ibarra said. “I was able to see the first group I worked with graduate from high school this year. I love to see how involved they become in school and their community. It’s very rewarding. And no matter how busy I am, they know I’m always there for them.”

She has taken that same role with the Valley Queens organization as she mentors young women while working beside co-executive director Miguel Sarasa.

“Miguel is the organizer, and I am more contestant-oriented; we balance each other out,” Ibarra said. She said having competed in larger pageants allows her to bring a special insight to the local one.

“These girls are walking role models. The spotlight is on them when they are out in the community and all these little faces are looking up to them. But all of them are truly remarkable representatives of our valley,” she said.

Ibarra said the networking opportunities these girls are given while performing community service throughout the year are invaluable.

“They are going out in their communities and meeting a diverse group of people and that is building their self confidence,” Ibarra said. “Being a titleholder is the best public-speaking class you can get.”